Section 5: Rules of Play
Opening Rush
- Both teams line up behind their respective end lines
- On the referee's signal (whistle or verbal "Go!"), players sprint toward the center line to retrieve balls
- Players may only initially retrieve balls placed on their right side of the court
- All balls retrieved during the opening rush must be taken behind the attack line before they can be thrown at opponents
Eliminating Opponents
A player is eliminated (out) when any of the following occurs:
- Hit by a thrown ball: A thrown ball strikes the player anywhere on their body or clothing before touching the ground, a wall, or another object. Hits must be below the shoulders to count (see Headshot Rule below)
- Ball is caught: An opponent catches a ball the player has thrown before it touches the ground or any other surface. The thrower is out, and one eliminated teammate of the catching team returns to play
- Crossing the center line: A player steps over or beyond the center line onto the opponent's side
- Stepping out of bounds: A player steps outside the side lines or end lines of their half
The Headshot Rule
Hits to the head and face are treated differently for safety:
- If a player is hit in the head while standing upright, the throw does not count and the target player remains in the game
- If a player deliberately ducks or dives into a low position and is then hit in the head, the hit does count and the target is out (they put themselves in that position)
- If a thrower is deemed to have intentionally targeted the head, the thrower is eliminated instead of the target
- The referee's judgment is final on all headshot calls
Catching
- A clean catch (ball does not touch the ground or any other surface) eliminates the thrower
- Upon a successful catch, one previously eliminated teammate from the catching team re-enters the game, returning in the order they were eliminated (first out, first back in)
- If a player attempts a catch and drops the ball, that player is eliminated
- A ball that deflects off one player and is caught by a teammate before touching the ground counts as a valid catch; the thrower is out and a teammate returns
Deflections and Blocking
- Players may use a held ball to deflect or block an incoming thrown ball
- If the blocking ball is knocked out of the defender's hands by the impact, the defender is eliminated
- If the deflected ball hits another player before touching the ground, that player is eliminated
- A deflected ball that is caught before touching the ground still counts as a valid catch
Dead Balls
A ball is considered "dead" and cannot eliminate a player when:
- It has touched the ground, a wall, the ceiling, or any other surface
- It has already hit a player (the ball is dead after the first contact)
- It was kicked rather than thrown
- It was thrown by a player who was already out at the time of the throw
Ball Possession and Stalling
- Players may hold a maximum of one ball at a time (some rulesets allow holding two)
- A player may not hold a ball for longer than 10 seconds; after 10 seconds they must throw it or roll it to the opposing side
- If a team holds all available balls and does not throw within 5 seconds, the balls are forfeited to the opposing team
Popular Variations
Prison Ball (Jailbreak)
- Eliminated players go to a "prison" area behind the opposing team's end line
- Prisoners can re-enter the game if they catch a ball thrown to them by a teammate or if they retrieve a loose ball and hit an opponent from behind
- The game ends when all members of one team are in prison
Doctor Dodgeball
- Each team secretly designates one player as the "Doctor" before the game begins
- The Doctor can revive eliminated teammates by tagging them (without being seen by the opposing team)
- If the Doctor is eliminated, no further revivals are possible for that team
- Teams must guard and protect their Doctor's identity
Trampoline Dodgeball
- Played on a court with interconnected trampolines
- Players can bounce and perform aerial maneuvers to dodge or throw
- Standard dodgeball elimination rules apply
- Additional safety rules are enforced due to the elevated risk of injury
Medic Dodgeball
- Similar to Doctor Dodgeball, but the medic is publicly known
- The medic can revive teammates by touching them and escorting them to the back wall
- Once the medic is eliminated, the team loses revival ability
King's Court
- One player is designated as the "King" on each team
- When the King is eliminated, the entire team loses regardless of remaining players
- The King's identity may be secret or publicly known depending on house rules